Cloth handling and transferring means



Nov. 25, 1952 s, BEARD 2,619,347

' CLOTH HANDLING AND TRANSFERRING MEANS Filed June 20, 1949 SiSiieets-Sheet 1 Inventor Edward 5. Be ard 81 @Mm WWW/12m Nov. 25, 1952 E. 8-,: BEARD CLOTH HANDLING AND TRANSFERRINQ MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1949 ww VII/742 Inventor Edward 5. Beard Nov. 25, 1952 1 E. s. BEARD 2,519,347

CLOTH HANDLING AND TRANSFERRING MEANS Filed June 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Edward 5. Beard WW Em Patented Nov. 25, 1952 CLOTH HANDLING AND TRANSFERRING MEANS Edward S. Beard, Spring City, Pa., assignor of one-half to Le Roy Krasley, Royersford, Pa.

Application June 20, 1949, Serial No. 100,283

Claims.

This invention relates to ways and means whereby lengthy cloth and piece-goods, either flat or tubular and whether wet or dry, may be readily and efiiciently transferred with a minimum of time and labor from one place to another, for example, from a wet room to a drying room, or vice versa.

Although my invention is susceptible of practical use in other fields of endeavor, it is primarily adapted for use in textile mills for conveniently suspending and pulling cloth from a wet room to a drying room, for unreeling cloth from rolls and bundling it into trucks to facilitate its delivery to dye kettles or kiers, for separating one particular cloth from another and to generally assist employees to carrying out daily cloth handling chores.

The invention may be construed as having to do with a novel cloth handling device; or, an apparatus made up of a plurality of such devices, some suspended from the room ceiling and others erected on the room floor, said devices being properly arranged and spaced so that the runs of cloth may be held clear of obstructions and situated out of the aisles used by the various workmen.

Those who are called upon to pull and tug heavy wet cloth from a wet room to a drying room and who have to perform various cloth handling and transferring steps are aware of the labor and time factors involved. In the past, comparatively crude cloth pullers and feeders have been devised and used. For example, it is common practice to suspend a wooden framework from the room ceiling, to provide a pair of wooden rollers between which the cloth is frictionally pressed and moved. In some instances, the cloth is pulled through the rollers by hand and in others by propelling one of the rollers from a motordriven belt mounted on the framework. These rather make-shift pullers, as they are referred to in the industry, are short-lived and constantly get out of order and have to be repaired.

With current cloth pulling difiiculties in mind, I have perfected new and improved cloth pulling devices and have systematically arranged these to best advantage in handling the various steps involved. One improvement has to do with a sturdy metal framework, a motor-driven steel cloth moving roller, and a rubber covered complemental cloth spreading and pressure roller. These rollers function with requisite nicety in uniformly moving the cloth.

Another object of the invention has to do with the provision of guide eyes which are fixedly mounted on opposite sides of the framework and consequently in close proximity to and on opposite sides of the coacting rollers to properly pilot and deliver the cloth to the rollers.

Further, novelty is predicated upon the use of apertured plates to support the eyes, one plate being substantially fiat and the other plate being 2 of angularly bent form to permit the lower end portion thereof to function as a cloth deflecting apron which latter facilitates coiling and bundling the cloth in a transporting truck.

Novelty, in addition to the above, has to do with the employment of the stated eye-equipped plates wherein said plates constitute guards or shields and minimize the likelihood that the hands of the attendants might, unguarded, become mangled.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view observing one vertical side of a cloth pulling and feeding device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of same observing the structure of Figure 1 in a direction from right to left;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 5 is an elevational view comparable to Figure 2 but observing the structure seen in Figure 1 in a direction from left to right;

Figure 6 is a view showing a plurality of such devices combining to form the aforementioned apparatus, said view being diagrammatic in character to illustrate the different cloth handling steps;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the shiftable roller bearing units.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the metal framework, which may be either suspended from the ceiling, or erectedand supported on the floor of the room is of general U-shaped form. The spaced vertical side members are made up of pairs of spaced angle irons (see Figure 1) 9 and Hi, suitably connected together at their lower ends as at H. As best shown in Figure 4 the lowermost relatively fixed steel roller is denoted by the numeral [2 and has its end journals mounted for rotation in appropriate bearings I3 supported between coacting frame members. On one side the journal of the roller [2 is provided with a pulley M to accommodate a belt l5 which is trained over a second pulley IE driven by an electric motor I! supported directly on the frame by suitable straps l8, l9 and 20. The complemental roller 2| is opposed in parallelism to the roller [2 and may be a wooden or equivalent roller 22 supported on a shaft 23 and having a cylindrical rubber covering 24. This roller is adjustable toward and from the roller l2 and to journal forming ends of said shaft are mounted in self-adjusting bearings 26. Each bearing as best shown in Figure 7 comprises a casting or block which includes the bearing 25 and which has diametrically opposite grooved adapters 21 having their grooved end portions keyed on the keys 28 carried by base plates 29 mounted on the co-acting angle iron. Thus the end portions of the shaft extend through the slots which exist between the respective angle irons and both bearings may be shifted up and down to provide the desired play between the co-acting rollers. The bearing unit or casting also includes an L-shaped lug 30 which functions in the manner illustrated in Figure 4.

At this point I direct attention to shock absorbing units denoted by the numerals 3| (see Figure 4). Each unit comprises a cylinder 32 hingedly attached at 33 to a hanger member 34 which is bolted rigidly to the co-acting angle irons of the framework. This shock absorber is suspended in the slot, or in alignment with the slot, and the slidable plunger 35 thereof carries a depending stem or rod 36, said rod having a yoke 3'1 hinged at 38 with the plunger. The rod is slidable through a fixed guide 39 and has its lower end portion secured by a nut 40 through the aforementioned L-shaped lug 30 on the roller bearing unit. A coiled spring 4| surrounds the rod between the guide 39 and lug 30 and with this arrangement the tension of the spring may be adjusted to the degree desired. It follows, therefore, that the rubber covered roller 21 is slidably mounted in the framework, is springurged, and is also connected to self-accommodating shock absorbers on the framework. By having the cushioned surface 24 and in conjunction with the stated shock absorbers and spring means, it is evident that the roller 2| as a, unit co-acts with requisite nicety with the relatively fixed steel roller 12. The device which is being described is the motor-driven type which is suspended from the ceiling of the room and as brought out in Figures 1 and 2, any suitable devices may be employed as hangers for the framework. For example, angle irons or equivalent elements 42 and 43 are connected together by rods 44 and are, in turn, connected by similar angle members 45 and 46 to the upper ends of the main frame members or angle irons 9 and [0. The numerals 41 designate braces which are attached to the lower ends of the framework and secured at their upper ends to the ceiling wall (not shown).

I call attention to the numerals 48 at the lower left in Figure 1 which designate adapter and attaching straps connected to and mounted on the angle irons and which serve to support a flat rectangular plate 49 which is centrally apertured and provided with a suitable collar 50 constituting one of the aforementioned cloth guide eyes. This eye is substantially in alignment with the point of contact between the respective rollers. On the opposite or right-hand side and attached to the angle iron I0, I provide other adapter straps 5! which are shaped to accommodate a plate 52 which is also centrally apertured to accommodate a collar 53 constituting another guide eye. The lower end portion of this plate is vertical and flat as at 54 and together with the upper inclined portion provides a drop apron for the cloth.

The device shown and described is, as stated, a motorized type, and, is hung by the means 42,

accomplish this the 43, 44, 45 and 46 from a ceiling in the room in which it is being installed for usage. In certain instances, the leading end of the cloth C is fed through the eye 50 and between the rollers l2 and 2| and comes into contact with the apron surfaces 52 and 54 and is allowed to descend, by suitable deflection, into a collector provided therefor. In other instances, the leading end of the cloth may be fed through the eye 53, for example, passed through or between the two rollers and then delivered out by way of eye 56.

As previously stated, I feel that novelty in the instant matter resides in the individual devices, for example, the type shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. Novelty is also thought to reside, it is felt, in the devices which may be collectively used to provide a cloth-handling apparatus, so to speak. Some of the devices could be turned or operated by hand cranks (not shown) for instance, in small plants. In Figure 6, which is but diagrammatically presented, the letter A may designate a main room in a building in which cloth-handling operations are being carried out. B may be, for example, a dry room and D a wet room. The walls of room A, that is, the walls E! and F are shown provided with additional eyes G and H through which the cloth may be conveyed from one room to another. The letters J and K may represent tubular box-like guides having eyes in opposite ends, these being customarily used, for delivering cloth from the room D, to the room A, to the room B or perhaps to the other room L. In the room L the cloth is delivered into a bin M. In the room A the cloth is shown dropping into a truck or similar conveyance N where it is transported to dyeing kettles or kiers. While I have shown the various stages of operation in Figure 6, it will be understood that I am not asserting claims to a system because systems like this are now in use, but the devices for handling the cloth are not efficient, as previously pointed out. It is evident, however, that since these kinds of tubular fabrics and cloth are heavy when wet, they are difiicult to handle and what with a plurality of devices, my improved feeders, properly arranged, clothhandling operations are eased and much time is, of course, saved.

As stated, the cloth, that is, the leading end may be passed through the centered eye 50 directly between rollers. In Figure 6, we see a number of instances in which this mode of passing the cloth between the rollers is illustrated. At the extreme left we see how the cloth may be fed into the eye 53, passed over the upper roller and returned between the rollers and dropped down as at O to achieve the aforementioned cloth deflecting and descending result. This same idea is shown at P at the extreme right where the leading end of the cloth comes through the eye 59, passes between the two rollers and strikes against the inner surface of the deflecting apron 54 and then drops down vertically. I know of no roller-equipped frame structures for cloth feeding and guiding purposes which have eyeequipped plates which may be alternatively and distinctively used in the manner shown.

Although the illustrations in Figure 6 are broadly disclosed, it is believed that this figure will assist one in obtaining some idea of how my improved cloth-handling devices may be assembled and used. Incidentally, the numerals 55 diagrammatically designate belt driven pulley assemblies.

So far as I have been able to ascertain, there are no cloth-handling feeders in the industry wherein a sturdy framework made up of angle irons is utilized to accommodate a fixed metal roller at the bottom, suitably driven, and a relatively movable cushioned roller with spring-urged means and shock absorbing means for effectively pressing and propelling the cloth with positive action between the two rollers.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a structure of the class described, a frame structure, a relatively stationary roller having at least one end journaled for rotation in said frame structure and provided with a pulley, an electric motor mounted on said frame structure, the shaft of said motor being provided with a pulley, a belt trained over said pulleys for transmitting motion from said motor to said roller, a second roller opposed to said first roller, a bearing unit slidably mounted on said frame structure, at least one end of said second-named roller being journaled for rotation in said bearing unit, a shock absorber having a cylinder pivotally anchored at one end on said frame structure, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a rod hingedly connected to said piston, a fixed guide on said frame structure, said rod being slidable through said guide, means adjustably connecting said rod with said bearing unit, and a coil tensioning spring surrounding the rod and interposed between the bearing unit and guide.

2. A cloth pulling and transferring device for friction-ally gripping, suspending and rapidly moving cloth, either tubular or flat and whether wet or dry, from rolls or bundles in trucks or from wet to drying rooms and vice versa, comprising a vertically elongated open frame structure adapted to be hinged and thus suspended vertically from a room ceiling, bearings fixedly mounted in the lower portion of said frame structure, a cloth pulling and feeding roller arranged in said bearings, said roller 'being provided at one end with a pulley, an electric motor fixed on said frame structure and having a shaft provided with a pulley, a motion transmitting belt trained over said pulleys, bearing units opposed to each other and slidably mounted on said frame structure above said first-named bearings, a second roller complemental to said first-named roller and having end journals mounted for rotation in said bearing units, shock absorbers having cylinders hingedly mounted at their upper ends on opposite sides of said frame structure, pistons slidable in said cylinders, fixed guides carried by said frame structure, linearly straight rods vertically slidable in said guides, said rods having their lower ends rigidly but adjustably connected with said bearing units and their upper ends hingedly joined to said pistons, coiled springs surrounding lower end portions of said rods, the upper ends of said springs bearing against corresponding guides, and tension regulating means for said springs carried by said rods.

3. A cloth pulling and transferring device for invention, what is frlctionally gripping, suspending and rapidly moving cloth, either tubular or flat and whether wet or dry, from rolls or bundles in trucks or from wet to drying rooms and vice versa, comprising a vertically elongated open frame structure adapted to be hung and thus suspended vertically from a room ceiling, bearings fixedly mounted in the lower portion of said frame structure, a cloth pulling and feeding roller arranged in said frame structure and mounted for rotation in said bearings, bearing units opposed to each other and slidably mounted on said frame structure above said first-named bearings, a second roller complemental to said first-named roller and having end journals mounted for rotation in said bearing units, shock absorbers having cylinders hingedly mounted at their upper ends on said frame structure, pistons slid-able in said cylinders, fixed guides carried by said frame structure, linearly straight rods vertically slidable in said guides, said rods having their lower ends rigidly but adjustably connected with said bearing units and their upper ends hingedly joined to said pistons, coiled springs surrounding lower end portions of said rods, the upper ends of said springs bearing against corresponding guides, and tension regulating means for said springs carried by said rods.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 and the addition thereto of a substantially rectangular vertically disposed plate detachably afiixed on one side of said frame structure in opposed spaced parallelism with said rollers, said plate being in close proximity to said rollers and constituting a safety hand shield for said rollers and having aperture means aligned with the plane of contact between said rollers.

5. The structure defined in claim 2 and the addition thereto of a substantially flat rectangular vertically disposed plate affixed on one side of said frame structure in opposed spaced parallelism with said rollers, said plate constituting a safety hand shield and having aperture means aligned with the plane of contact between said rollers, and a second plate affixed to the other side of said frame structure in approximate alignment with said first plate and opposed to said rollers, said second plate including an upper inclined portion and a vertical lower apron portion and also constituting a hand shield and a cloth deflector, the upper inclined portion of said second plate being apertured and provided with a collar, said collar being on a plane which is primarily above the planes of both of said rollers.

EDWARD S. BEARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,211,058 Bischoff Jan. 2, 1917 1,738,084 Tevaddle Dec. 3, 1929 1,768,414 Lyth June 24, 1930 1,975,122 Potdevin Oct. 2, 1934 2,164,919 Harmon July 4, 1939 2,246,456 Quigley June 17, 1941 2,320,659 Sahlin June 1, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,583 Britain Apr. 5, 1935 

